Part 1- I think that a huge issue with multiple choice tests and other common assessments is that they only look for one answer. There is no higher level of thinking or deeper thought processes being conducted. Students, from my experience, also only learn for a test, not for permanent knowledge. There is also a huge possibility that the chapters are not complete with information, which the poem alludes too. Students also don't gain any other skills by answer multiple choice questions.
Part 2-
a) There are a lot of great formative assessments that I can use in the classroom. Some of the aspects I have already included in Student Teaching are classroom discussion, group activities, and quizzes. I really like classroom discussion because it's a really easy grade for the students to earn and an easy grade to grade as a teacher. Quizzes are a great way to review the TEKS being tested to make sure students understand the concepts. Group activities promote great learning and cooperative skills which are essential for students to develop.
b) Summative assessments are a little more difficult to use in the classroom. I try to stay away from plain old chapter tests if I can avoid it. A great summative assessment I have used in Student Teaching is OER's (Open Ended Response). Students are able to answer a question in their own words. I also think long essays are a good summative assignment so students develop writing skills. Projects are also a good summative grade because they incorporate creativity and fun for students.
c) There are many reasons to have both. For one, it allows for more grades in the grade book because formative assessments are daily grades a lot of times. This also allows students many chances at success and hold them accountable for their work. Students are all different, and having many forms of assessment allow students to reach their maximum abilities in an assessment that plays to their strengths.
d) In the future, I would like to do more summative assessments with presentations. Students need to learn how to speak clearly in front of people. By teaching the class, students also learn more themselves. I would also like to incorporate 3-2-1 summery activities, which are quick, easy, and effective. I will also try and incorporate more bell ringers and exit slips as formative assessments. These are great ways to begin and end class and really allows me to measure student understanding.
I agree with your ideas about multiple choice tests. They are truly only looking for one answer and that does not require higher level thinking skills. Multiple choice tests might be okay to use occasionally, but they should definitely not be the only type of assessment utilized in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteAlso, bell ringers are great! In the class where I am student teaching, we utilize some type of “bell ringer” or “do now activity” every day. It’s just a short assessment typically a different one every day, but it keeps the students busy and learning from the moment they walk into the door. I also wrote that exit slips would be a great assessment as well. I think the inclusion of both bell ringers and exit slips would be great to keep students preoccupied during class time from beginning to end!
Amanda, I agree one hundred percent with you multiple choice test do not allow students to broaden their knowledge and use and enhance their cognitive skills. I like the use of oral assessments I feel meaning students lack in public speaking if we would allow practice in speaking and using more summative assessments that including having to speak would improve public speaking skills. The use of summarizing activities allow student to focus on the big picture so to say instead of just memorizing facts.
ReplyDeleteMultiple choice is a big deal of guessing and narrowing down to options that make sense. Sometimes you do need things like essays and things of that nature to help assess students better. Presentations are a great way to sum up a chapter. It also helps students develop that characteristic needed for the career world.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts on multiple choice questions that students are not using their higher thinking skills and actually gaining knowledge from the lesson that they are learning.
ReplyDeleteI too am working with my students with OER's. They learn to analyze the material and write an academic response, which will help them more in the long run in remembering the material. I like that you want to include more projects which include the students' creativity, as many students need the opportunity to create for themselves.
ReplyDeleteGreat reflection never thought to use verbal answer exam great idea. I usually use pop question at the end of the period and review three questions learned that day. If the three students that were chosen receive the correct answer they each get a buck. If they earn 5 bucks they can use it to earn 5 points on an exam.
ReplyDeleteAmanda,
ReplyDeleteI love your idea about a verbal answer exam. I also agree on your public speaking opinion. Many of my seniors still have a fear of speaking in front of the class. I think that more public speaking assignments should occur early in education.
More presentations is a good idea, so that students will become more comfortable speaking in front of people. I liked how my teacher would have warm ups in the beginning of class to show how well I did on my homework and what I need to work on.
ReplyDelete